the good, the bad and the ugly

aka...an update on the studio! Actually there's not much bad or ugly in there anymore, but it's still a work in progress.

We're all friends here, right? So I can admit to some things? Like for instance, my addiction to shelves. Yes, shelves. I even have shelves stashed under my bed--there simply isn't room in my house for them all. But they're all pretty darn cute, so that makes it ok, right?







You'll see there's a practical reason for most of them. I've got a lot of stuff. Some in my house would call it "crap", and I've heard that word more than a few times. But that's ok. Because it's my studio.



I figured my chair could use a makeover, so I made a slipcover for it using an old sheet and some fabric I just happened to have. I'm happy with it--unfortunately so is the cat.



The bookcase got cleaned out--most books were donated or moved to my bedroom. My Japanese books stayed put--they're among my favorites even though I can't read them. This freed up space for my jars of buttons and vintage trims--and one of my old breadboxes fits perfectly on the bottom shelf. I'd tell you what I store in it but I can't remember. That's the only tough part of this--I'm really having trouble remembering where I put stuff. Even though it's all organized.



Case in point--my rotary cutters and scissors. They'd always been in the closet, but I needed every inch for my fabric. So I moved them to the top of the bookcase. And every single day I look in the closet for them.



Here's a pic of my closet. I have another addiction--snacks. I have to keep them hidden from one of my sons, so that's where they are. Well, that's just one of the places they are. I have a lot of snacks.

Those really ugly closet doors will be coming down. They were the cheap, builder doors we opted for when we bought the house--seemed the best solution for a boy's room. Now I suppose I could replace them with mirrored doors, but I really don't want to watch myself sew. I've installed a wooden pole and when I can find just the right fabric, I'll make a curtain to cover the mess.



I might redo the window curtains at that time as well. But how do you like my new bunting? It's from the cleverest kit ever that I found over here.



Moving on, we come to what was Melvin's table. No, he's fine...but he's had to move downstairs, at least for awhile. Compton Pig's bff Jack died a number of months ago and poor Compton was pretty upset about it so we figured he could use some company. I really do miss my pal, but he's happy downstairs with his new buddy. So that freed up some space for my vintage fabrics and WIP's. Or at least what can fit in some baskets.
I'll be making a liner for the vintage shopping cart--when I find just the right fabric.

So I was all set to start this post earlier today when a package came in the mail. The name didn't look familiar...am I so brain addled that I'm now ordering things from ebay or etsy and not remembering? Thankfully, not yet.




It was the most beautiful pincushion/needlecase ever! I mean, look at that! What a generous gift from the mother of a customer! Totally made my month. At least a month. So I had to do a little more rearranging so I could give this treasure a special spot. I get the feeling Venetia wants me to use it...she even included a needle...but can't do that quite yet.

So here it is so far...tell me what you think! I'll be definitely adding more fabric touches here and there...you know, when I find just the right fabric. Preferably something with roses.